From Islamism to Civil Religion: Erdoğan's Shift to Secularism

Abstract

In 2002, the Justice and Development Party came to power in Turkey, while Recep Tayyip Erdo & gbreve;an became its leader in 2003, and both have remained in power until today. Initially, Erdo & gbreve;an had a predominantly Islamist discourse, and in that period, Islam became gradually more visible in public space and foreign relations. However, that Islamist discourse later increasingly gave way to realpolitik due to domestic requirements and international economic and political changes. This article deals with this transition from Islamism to civil religion and secularism during Erdo & gbreve;an's power and explores its nature and characteristics as well as the impact on politics. I suggest that while still sometimes making use of an Islamist rhetoric, Erdo & gbreve;an's focus in recent years has been more on various secular-sacred items of civil religion, like homeland, nation (as a chosen people), national flag, (sacralized) state, and, additionally, national development. I examine the civil religion Erdo & gbreve;an advocates by analyzing his official and casual speeches, interviews he gave, and some of the slogans he used. I also suggest that Erdo & gbreve;an's transition to civil religion also represents a shift to secularism, as modern civil religions undermine and subordinate established religions to a great extent and also create their own secular sacredness.